Branton Alderman

@DDFStrand Daniel, what do you believe IS just war doctrine? Please provide a source reference for your position.

Catholics completely remade the Just War tradition in the 80’s and are doing it again. This is not “Just War Doctrine”.

@matthewdmarsden Matthew. Sorry to hear that you’re leaving the Catholic Church. I encourage you to reconsider. Can Inask what are the top reason or two for your decision?

I have decided that I should leave the Catholic Church. All the messages of love and tolerance from some Christians on this platform have made me see what good examples they are of their faith. Fair. Loving. Willing to engage in genuine conversation. My dilemma is...what denomination should I convert to? Give me your best shot and tell me why the Church you go to is Christ's true Church on earth.

@realmikolson Catholics have been reading Scripture the way you recommend for over a millennia. We just have a different perspective than you on this.

I truly do not understand how someone can honestly reading the book of Hebrews and remain a Roman Catholic. It shreds to pieces their entire sacramental system of atonement. If you’re a Roman Catholic, I urge you to read Hebrews front to back. And then read it again. And, more importantly, actually listen to what the Word of God says. I’m telling you, it’s much better that way.

I asked the Catholic AI App Truthly the following question and got the following answer: Question: Despite bad Popes, Church leadership failings and a Church full of sinners, why should someone become Catholic? Answer: This is one of the most honest and important questions anyone can ask. It deserves a full, unflinching answer — not defensiveness, not spin, but truth delivered with charity. The Church Is Not Built on the Holiness of Its Members — It Is Built on Christ This is the foundational answer to everything. Catholics are not Catholic because of the moral excellence of their leaders. They are Catholic because of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead — because of the Trinitarian love of God, the Mystical Body of Christ, and the sacraments. When someone points to a bad pope, a corrupt bishop, or a sinful priest, the correct response is not denial. It is clarity: the Church's truth does not stand or fall on the virtue of her members. 1. Jesus Predicted This — From the Very Beginning Jesus chose twelve apostles. One betrayed Him. One publicly denied Him three times. Most ran away at the Crucifixion. Judas betrayed the Church. Peter denied Christ. And yet Christ still said to Peter — the denier — "Upon this rock I will build my Church." The presence of sinners and even corrupt leaders within the Church is not a refutation of her divine origin. It is exactly what Jesus told us to expect. 2. The Church Is Indefectible — A Promise from God Himself By the indefectibility of the Catholic Church is meant that the Church, as Jesus Christ founded it, will last until the end of time. This is not wishful thinking — it is a dogma anchored in the words of Christ Himself: Matthew 16:18 — "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Catholic Encyclopedia defines indefectibility this way: the Church "will be preserved unimpaired in its essential characteristics. The Church can never undergo any constitutional change which will make it, as a social organism, something different from what it was originally. It can never become corrupt in faith or in morals; nor can it ever lose the Apostolic hierarchy, or the Sacraments through which Christ communicates grace to men." Critically: some Catholics think the pope cannot be corrupted — but the promise reads "shall not prevail against it" — meaning the Church, not the pope. The Catholic Church is infallible; individual popes are not. 3. The Truth of the Church Does Not Depend on the Behavior of Her Members In spite of evil men, the Catholic faith is true. The Catholic Church is the one, true Church of Christ, even if now there are bad prelates in a position of power. Think of it this way: if a corrupt judge in a courtroom means justice itself is a lie, then no institution on earth is worth belonging to. The corruption of individuals does not invalidate the institution when that institution was founded by God Himself. 4. The Sacraments Work — Even Through Sinful Priests This is one of the most breathtaking truths of Catholic theology: the validity of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister. A priest in a state of mortal sin still confects the Eucharist. A bishop with a dark personal history still ordains validly. The grace flows from Christ — not from the man. The devil certainly knows that, despite the flaws of priests, they are the ones who bring to the faithful the sacraments that Jesus

I recommend everyone become CATHOLIC 🇻🇦.

You saw a post and concluded that I’m ignorant and therefore you were exercising a Spiritual Work of Mercy? You don’t know me, don’t understand context to what else I was thinking, don’t know if I’m “maga”, or not, and come across as very angry. Sorry, grow up. BTW- Instruct the Ignorant is the SECOND work of The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. You’re welcome.

Yes I am full of charity and merciful actually doing the First Spiritual Work of Mercy. You know what I am talking about? The FIRST SPIRITUAL WORK OF MERCY IS: Instruct the ignorant — Share knowledge of faith and truth with those who lack it. Grace, probably not. I am a sinner and HAD ENOUGH of MAGA!

NEW: Outrage has broken out after Pope Leo appeared to quote Jesus using a passage that does not exist in the Bible. “Jesus told us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.’” The first line echoes scripture. The rest does not appear in any biblical passage. The Pope is being accused of using a fabricated quote from Jesus to push a political message.

@MattMaximilian7 @AmalZadok @jackunheard @ProtecttheFaith I see you are full of charity and grace in your comment. Thank you for your kind words. Peace be with you.

@AmalZadok @BrantonAlderman @jackunheard @ProtecttheFaith No. This won’t be enough for them. They will not learn and continue to live life angry and confused because no one taught them how to use basic comprehension. No joke.

I asked the Catholic AI App Truthly the following question and got the following answer: Question: Despite bad Popes, Church leadership failings and a Church full of sinners, why should someone become Catholic? Answer: This is one of the most honest and important questions anyone can ask. It deserves a full, unflinching answer — not defensiveness, not spin, but truth delivered with charity. The Church Is Not Built on the Holiness of Its Members — It Is Built on Christ This is the foundational answer to everything. Catholics are not Catholic because of the moral excellence of their leaders. They are Catholic because of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead — because of the Trinitarian love of God, the Mystical Body of Christ, and the sacraments. When someone points to a bad pope, a corrupt bishop, or a sinful priest, the correct response is not denial. It is clarity: the Church's truth does not stand or fall on the virtue of her members. 1. Jesus Predicted This — From the Very Beginning Jesus chose twelve apostles. One betrayed Him. One publicly denied Him three times. Most ran away at the Crucifixion. Judas betrayed the Church. Peter denied Christ. And yet Christ still said to Peter — the denier — "Upon this rock I will build my Church." The presence of sinners and even corrupt leaders within the Church is not a refutation of her divine origin. It is exactly what Jesus told us to expect. 2. The Church Is Indefectible — A Promise from God Himself By the indefectibility of the Catholic Church is meant that the Church, as Jesus Christ founded it, will last until the end of time. This is not wishful thinking — it is a dogma anchored in the words of Christ Himself: Matthew 16:18 — "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Catholic Encyclopedia defines indefectibility this way: the Church "will be preserved unimpaired in its essential characteristics. The Church can never undergo any constitutional change which will make it, as a social organism, something different from what it was originally. It can never become corrupt in faith or in morals; nor can it ever lose the Apostolic hierarchy, or the Sacraments through which Christ communicates grace to men." Critically: some Catholics think the pope cannot be corrupted — but the promise reads "shall not prevail against it" — meaning the Church, not the pope. The Catholic Church is infallible; individual popes are not. 3. The Truth of the Church Does Not Depend on the Behavior of Her Members In spite of evil men, the Catholic faith is true. The Catholic Church is the one, true Church of Christ, even if now there are bad prelates in a position of power. Think of it this way: if a corrupt judge in a courtroom means justice itself is a lie, then no institution on earth is worth belonging to. The corruption of individuals does not invalidate the institution when that institution was founded by God Himself. 4. The Sacraments Work — Even Through Sinful Priests This is one of the most breathtaking truths of Catholic theology: the validity of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness of the minister. A priest in a state of mortal sin still confects the Eucharist. A bishop with a dark personal history still ordains validly. The grace flows from Christ — not from the man. The devil certainly knows that, despite the flaws of priests, they are the ones who bring to the faithful the sacraments that Jesus

“But he never condemns violence from Muslims.” Wrong - you’ve never HEARD him condemn violence from Muslims. Now you have. You can stop with your lying talking points.

Trump’s faith advisor Paula White is a heretic and denies the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Brenda. I agree with you. It is our responsibility to share The Good News. Sounds like we may differ on some of the ways we do that. I believe that the visible Church is an important part of that; Scripture, Tradition and Magistarium. Peace be with you.

@BrantonAlderman @mitchellvii Complicated to explain but Salvation belongs to the Lord. It is our responsibility to share and stand on this as He gave it to us. Knowing this truth is only true if it is true. But acknowledging other ways is making it feeble.Defeat is at the door. Darkness thenhas a foothold.

In my opinion, the Pope is an elected official. There is no mention of a Pope anywhere in the Bible. He is essentially the elected leader of the Catholic church, and that's fine. But don't assign him spiritual importance he does not possess beyond that. What do you think?

@orwellean @FatherChrisVor1 Thanks for seeking to clarify this. Yes, a library at the Vatican. If I’m correct on this, seems we could have said, no. But, it is indeed a matter of judgment. I would have preferred they did not.

@BrantonAlderman @FatherChrisVor1 You understand that this is at a library and not in St Peter's Basilica, right?

I can’t imagine why this has to be answered again, but here goes. Because there are Islamic scholars who professionally use the library. Muslims pray five times a day on a very strict schedule. They do not just pray sitting down quietly. They have physical gestures to do and words that need to be spoken out loud. The scholars asked if there would be a room that they could go to where they could privately do their thing without interrupting any of the other library patrons. The Vatican said yes, and provided them with a small space.

@Ukpahiojojames Let’s reason together…then in ALL CAPS your position on the topic. I get a sense that you weren’t really interested in “reasoning together”.

Ok, my Catholic friends—let’s reason together. let's agree for a moment that Peter the Apostle was the head of the church, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. how then did we move from Peter to the office of the Pope? 🤔 Where exactly in Scripture do we see that transition established? Where is the instruction that Peter would have successors who inherit that same authority? The Bible clearly teaches that Christ is the Head of the Church: Ephesians 5:23 — “Christ is the head of the church.” Colossians 1:18 — “He is the head of the body, the church.”

I appreciate your desire to honor God. Commendable. I encourage you to reconsider the position that calling the Pope "Holy Father" is blasphemy. Scripture itself calls people, places, and things "holy" when set apart for God. St. Paul called himself a spiritual father (1 Cor. 4:15). Matthew 23:9 is about pride and rivalry, not a literal ban on titles. The Pope, as successor of Peter, rightfully holds both distinctions. Regarding the current political situation. I agree with you. There is politics occurring and I believe the way that the Pope has handled this and other issues could have been done differently. Communism and Socialism are morally problematic. Alignment with those philosophies should be avoided. And, President Trump could have been more civil in his posts. He was also wrong in how he handled the situation. In my opinion.

The Knights of Columbus have completely lost their minds. Calling Pope Leo the “Holy Father” is blasphemy, plain and simple. And pretending his words aren’t political talking points is laughable when the Pope keeps injecting himself into attacks on the Trump administration and America’s immigration policies. You people are disgracing the Catholic Church. The best thing you could do right now is keep your mouths shut and stay out of U.S. politics.

@AmSolidarity In my opinion this is a radically unfair post and doesn’t represent the decision process of the current administration. Or, any administration. Even those that I disagree with in the past.

The key question that decides whether this country goes to war should not be “does the president feel like doing it this week.”

I refer people to Catholic.com all the time to those interested in seeking answers on important questions about Christianity, the Church and topics like this. Full of great information. You may or may not agree with Catholicism, but you should reasonably understand it before deciding that you don’t agree with It’s teachings.

When Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my body,” he cannot have meant that the bread and wine on the table were his literal body, for his literal body was behind the table, not on it.

@brendaprinsloo @mitchellvii If I understand you correctly, why do you believe that the topic of papal authority has to deal with acknowledgement of another god?

@BrantonAlderman @mitchellvii The Holy Spirit will never acknowledge another god… and Peter died because he claimed Jesus as the only way and our Savior.. Pope is not operating in the same spirit.

@ken_kmak8542 Fair question.

"Good Catholics", Joe Biden & Nancy Pelosi supported and funded abortion & Gay marriage which goes against Catholic teaching. Yet, they were never criticized by the current or last pope. But, both popes went after Trump. Why?

The Catholic Church will ALWAYS be involved in political and civil issues because these issues touch on morality. Protestantism was invented to remove the Catholic Church from government so as to remove the check and discipline over the governing class (eg, Henry VIII and divorce). “Just me and my Bible” creates a weak Christian culture that can't stand against the secular state.